Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

January 25, 2015 (AM)

Ad hoc Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

[Provisional Translation]

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the authenticity of the image. What are the reasons which led you to determine that there was a strong probability that the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL) circulated the image?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A photograph purportedly showing the killing of Mr. Yukawa has circulated on the Internet. As we have not confirmed the body, it cannot be concluded that Mr. Yukawa was killed. We will continue to carry out analyses of the image and collect relevant information. However, at this point in time, we have found nothing to deny the killing of Mr. Yukawa.

REPORTER: A related question. Do you perceive that the voice of the man speaking in English was Mr. Goto’s in all likelihood?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are analyzing everything about the image, including such information.

REPORTER: I have a related question regarding the safety of Mr. Goto. As of now, has the Japanese Government obtained any definitive information from which you can confirm that Mr. Goto is alive?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan of course considers that Mr. Goto is alive. It is under these circumstances that we are doing everything we can to realize the quickest possible release of Mr. Goto.

REPORTER: My question is in regard to this matter. In the video, the perpetrators made a new demand to the Japanese Government. They have requested the release of an attempted female suicide bomber detained in Jordan in exchange for the release of Mr. Goto. What are your views concerning this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is making its strongest efforts to realize the immediate release of Mr. Goto, working first and foremost to save his life by using various channels and routes, while obtaining the cooperation of relevant countries, including Jordan. At the same time, Japan will not give in to terrorism. Our position of actively contributing to the counter-terrorism efforts by the international community remains unchanged.

REPORTER: A related question. There is a view that paying ransoms encourages terrorism. What is your opinion on exchanging a hostage from Japan’s standpoint of not giving in to terrorism?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated a short while ago, Japan is working persistently to obtain the cooperation of relevant countries, including Jordan, first and foremost to save the life of Mr. Goto. At the same time, Japan will not give in to terrorism and our position on contributing to the counter-terrorism efforts by the international community remains unchanged. This is the position of Japan. That is the bottom line.

REPORTER: First of all, have you determined that ISIL circulated this image?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The various governmental bodies are now analyzing and looking into this.

REPORTER: So you have not yet confirmed it?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are looking into it. However, as I stated earlier, as of now we have found nothing to deny this.

REPORTER: My question pertains to the previous question. Have you concluded that ISIL has formally requested the release of this woman on death row?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is still an ongoing matter. Japan will pursue every possible means, first and foremost, to save the life of Mr. Goto. Furthermore, our position on the matter of terrorism remains completely unchanged. In this context, we are doing everything we can and are fully dealing with the situation, all the while obtaining the cooperation of relevant countries, including Jordan. This is where things currently stand.

REPORTER: My question is about last night’s video message. The video starts out with English subtitles saying, “This message was received by the family of Kenji Goto Jogo and the Government of Japan.” What is the Government’s understanding of the facts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not aware of this.

REPORTER: You stated that you were looking into the image. However, has the Government contacted the family of Mr. Yukawa over this matter? If so, what did the Government say to Mr. Yukawa’s family?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government contacted the family. With regard to your question on what we said, we explained that this image was now on the Internet.

REPORTER: ISIL is demanding the release of a prisoner detained in Jordan in exchange for the release of Mr. Goto. What kind of negotiations is the Japanese Government conducting with the Jordanian Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is a fact that Japan and Jordan have extremely amicable relations, with their leaders visiting each other’s countries. Under these circumstances, we are asking the relevant countries, including Jordan, for their cooperation to work towards realizing the immediate release of Mr. Goto. However, as this is an ongoing matter, I would like to refrain from commenting the details.

REPORTER: In the previous video, a 72-hour deadline was set. This time, no deadline was set. What is the Government’s analysis of the deadline for the release of the prisoner that ISIL requested?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The situation does not permit me to say anything definitive in regard to this. In any case, the Government is making its strongest efforts to realize the quickest possible release of Mr. Goto.

REPORTER: I would like to ask another question regarding the release of the prisoner in exchange for the Japanese hostage. Is my understanding correct that you have not eliminated this exchange as a bargaining chip?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan is making its maximum efforts to realize the immediate release of Mr. Goto, first and foremost to save his life, while obtaining the cooperation of relevant countries, including Jordan. At the same time, Japan will not give in to terrorism, and our position of contributing to the counter-terrorism efforts by the international community remains unchanged.

REPORTER: Moments ago, you stated that you were not aware whether the video had been sent to the Government. However, when did the Government see the video?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: One more time?

REPORTER: Moments ago, you stated that you were not aware whether the video had been sent in advance to Mr. Goto’s family and to the Government. However, when did the Government see the video?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I had absolutely no knowledge about this.

REPORTER: In other words, around what time did the Government see the video?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, the video was made available on the Internet.

REPORTER: I have a related question. When you say you had absolutely no knowledge about this, is it your perception that ISIL sent out this message unilaterally?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are considering such things while watching the video on the internet. The situation is extremely severe. While we had obtained various information, the situation did not permit us to say anything definitively.

REPORTER: Could I confirm with you whether you are saying that the English subtitles at the beginning of the video – “This message was received by the family of Kenji Goto Jogo and the Government of Japan” – whether this message was unilaterally sent out by ISIL?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As this is an ongoing matter, I will not say anything definitively. Although we had obtained various information thus far, the situation did not permit us to saying anything definitively.

REPORTER: How did you discover that the video was uploaded?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is alert to everything that is going on. We are alert to urgent matters. It was in this process that we discovered the video.

REPORTER: Are you saying that your system caught the video?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, exactly.

REPORTER: At what time yesterday did you confirm that the video was circulated on the Internet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The official time was…

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY: A little after 11 o’clock. A little after 11 o’clock in the evening.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe it was 11:10 pm or 11:20 pm. I think it was somewhere around then.

REPORTER: Other than the videos that the terrorist group or ISIL circulates, other than what they send out, have you been able to maintain any kind of communication with them?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, we have not.

REPORTER: An individual who appeared on a TV news program early this morning stated that according to what he heard from a senior government official, the Government had apparently seen the image at around 5 am on Saturday but did not disclose this information due to the gravity of the content. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, it is not.

REPORTER: What are your thoughts regarding the fact that the perpetrators’ demand changed from money to the release of a prisoner?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government has no awareness of this. We would therefore like to refrain from commenting in our capacity.

REPORTER: While you touched on this briefly moments ago, can you once again explain how the Japanese Government perceives Japan-Jordan relations and U.S.-Jordan relations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated a short while ago, H.M. King Abdullah II visited Japan last year and the Prime Minister visited Jordan this month. In this sense, I would like to reiterate that Japan and Jordan have extremely close ties. With regard to U.S.-Jordan relations, as this concerns other countries, the Government would like to refrain from making comments.

REPORTER: In the video, the group stated that it killed Mr. Yukawa because Prime Minister Abe did not respond to the demand. The group stated that it killed Mr. Yukawa because the Japanese Government did not live up to its side of the bargain. Is that the situation?